The floor was not an ideal one, though cattle had cropped it close and the winds had swept it dry, but the pair were accomplished dancers.
Thrice had they paced the length of the floor. Now they turned again, hand in hand, with heads thrown back, and uplifted feet. There was the unmistakable sound of an approaching car. Cunningham must have heard it, but recklessly he continued the dance.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "THERE WAS THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND OF AN APPROACHING CAR."
(_p. 198._)]
With a toot it hove into sight, and Lord Tadcaster turned his own horn into a prolonged howl, signifying unimaginable trouble. This, and the unusual scene at the side, brought up the oncoming car to a smart halt.
They backed abreast of the Panhard.
"Robbery! Help!" cried the Earl.
The two occupants of the new car hardly heard him. They were lost in astonishment. As the dancers reached the verge of the road in the full flare of the light, they were greeted with a round of applause. With a snap Lord Tadcaster turned off the gramophone.
"Well, I"m jiggered!" said one of the newcomers. "If it ain"t little Hoity Toity!"
The peer had jumped from the Panhard. "Help me to secure this highwayman," he said, pointing to Cunningham. "He has robbed me."
The man who had just spoken also got down, but his companion remained on the car, stolidly surveying the scene.
"Come along," said the peer to his recruit. "I think we can manage him between us."
"Stow it, old man," said the motorist. "You collar the highwayman, and I"ll look after the lady."
He brushed past the Earl, and, with proffered arm, smirked, "May I have the next dance, Miss?"
Lady Eva drew back. The man came still nearer. Instinctively she touched Cunningham"s arm for protection.
"Stand back, sir!" he commanded.
"Who the juggins are you?" sneered the man. "This old buffer says you"re a highwayman, but you seem to think you"re a bloomin" bobby. You git, and let me have my partner for the high-kick lancers."
"If you come one step nearer I"ll thrash you," said Cunningham.
The man needed no further encouragement. He even dared to touch the lady"s arm. A second later he measured his length on the turf.
His friend tumbled from his seat with anxious chivalry.
""Ere, you leave my pal alone," he said, rolling up to Cunningham.
"Shut up, Sammy," said the other, rising slowly to his feet. "Now, look you here, Mr. Highwayman," he continued vindictively. "You"ve had your score, now I"ll have mine. Either this lady has a hop with me to my own time and tune, and gives me a kiss at the end, or----"
"Or what?"
"Or I ride on to Harrogate, and give the police information of highway robbery."
"There"s your car," said Cunningham. "Ride on."
"He"s not likely to wait for the arrival of the police," said the Earl ruefully, yet anxious for the departure of these impossible helpers.
"I shall be back with a bobby in twenty minutes," the man rejoined, "and we"ll telephone to every town in the district so that he can"t escape.
I"m not in fightin" form myself to-night, so I"d rather do it in proper legal style. I"ll bring a solicitor if I can find one. Now, young feller," he continued, "you"d better consider well. It"ll be a twelve months" touch for you for robbery and six for "sault and battery. Are you going to let your friend sacrifice himself on the altar of nonsense, Miss? I think our steps "ud soot each other amazing."
Cunningham advanced on him threateningly. "If you dare to speak another word to the lady you"ll find yourself on the ground again," he said.
The man retreated before him, and Sammy fled. "Right "o," said the former. "You"ve had your choice. It"s plank and skilly for you now. Get up, Sammy." He bundled his friend into his seat, himself followed, let in the clutch, and they disappeared.
"Oh, I"m so sorry," said the girl.
"Please don"t worry about it," replied Cunningham. "The whole thing is the result of my own folly. It serves me jolly well right if I suffer for it."
"Hadn"t you better try to escape now?" she asked, only remembering his protection of her.
Cunningham shook his head. "I think not," he replied. "It"s probably all a ruse on his part to get me away. Then he might return and--and annoy you."
Lady Eva was silent.
"By George, sir," said the Earl, "I like your spirit. What the deuce do you want with that peppercorn and shoe? Give me "em back and I"ll say no more about it all."
Cunningham smiled a little sadly. "I"m afraid I can"t. But you shall have them on the morning of the 29th without fail. Perhaps you"ll believe me now." Then, after a pause, he added: "I"ll make a dash for it if they aren"t back in a quarter of an hour. In that case, I shall conclude that they really have gone to give the alarm."
The minutes pa.s.sed. Lady Eva bit her lips in thought. Cunningham looked alternately from her to Betelgeuse and the moon. The peer stared stolidly into s.p.a.ce.
"Look here," said Cunningham suddenly. "Aren"t we wasting time? Why wait for a.s.sistance? I think I can put on a new tyre, if you will allow me.
Where are your spare tubes and covers, and your jack?"
His lordship accepted the offer with alacrity, and the two men were soon busy round the wheel.
Cunningham ceased work for a moment to take Lady Eva her furs, and a.s.sist her into them. She sat down on a tree stump, holding the remaining lamp, and turning its light on the work.
She did this mechanically. All the while she was thinking gravely.
Suddenly a smile pa.s.sed over her face, and she nodded approvingly.
The men were so busy that they did not pause at the sound of the returning car. Sammy"s friend was better than his word. They had barely been gone fifteen minutes.
"That"s the highwayman--that young feller. Arrest him for robbery!"
shouted the motorist, as he brought his car to a standstill, and a policeman sprang down.
"Is that the charge, sir?" said the policeman to Lord Tadcaster.
What the Earl would have replied is uncertain, for before he could answer Lady Eva had intervened.
"Robbery! What in the world do you mean?" she cried, standing up, and flashing the light on the policeman.
"That gentleman has taken me off my beat to arrest a man for highway robbery."
"That gentleman is mistaken," replied the girl. "We"ve had a breakdown.
Surely that is the person who promised to send a.s.sistance from Harrogate. We want a repairer, not a policeman."
"Don"t you believe her!" cried the motorist. "Ask the old "un."